James R Smith Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker ROANOKE, VA EIN: 56-6577908

The James R Smith Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Roanoke, Virginia. Established in 2001, it operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization focused on philanthropic activities across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.4M

-0.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$422K

+240.8% YoY

Grant Count

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$18K

+127.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James R Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $626K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation primarily funds unrestricted general support to various organizations. Its grant-making focuses on:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Religious organizations
Historical preservation

Grantmaking

The foundation made 16 grants in 2023. Recent documented grants include:

Grant Range

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

Virginia $1.4M (69%)

South Carolina $317K (15%)

North Carolina $286K (14%)

Kentucky $25K (1%)

Connecticut $20K (1%)

West Virginia $9K (0%)

District of Columbia $3K (0%)

Colorado $1K (0%)

+3 more states

States

Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Kentucky North Carolina New York South Carolina Virginia West Virginia

Cities

AbingdonAmericusArlingtonAshevilleAshvilleBlacksburgCaryCharlestonCharlotteColorado SpringsJacksonvilleLewisburgLouisvilleMccleanNew YorkNorth CharlestonRansonRichmondRoanokeStamford

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $9,492,082
Total Revenues: $242,410
Total Expenses: $239,861
Investment Income and Dividends: $255,482
Total Liabilities: $0

Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$9,437,482	$9,492,082	$9,689,881
Revenue	$486,916	$242,410	$680,109
Expenses	$547,134	$239,861	$230,212
Qualifying Distributions	$422,200	$129,335	$128,860
Net Investment Income	$360,982	$135,171	$590,197
Distributable Amount	$626,244	$594,314	$556,027

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

82 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Clear Water Foundation ($210,000), Baptists on Mission ($25,000), Presbyterian Church USA ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Ashley Hall Charleston, SC	General Unrestricted Support	$15,500
Riverdale Baptist Church Roanoke, VA	GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT	$1,200
The Preservation Society of Charles Charleston, SC	GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT	$11,000
VTC School of Medicine Roanoke, VA	GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT	$20,000
Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, VA	GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT	$8,000
Alzheimer's Association MCCLEAN, VA	General Unrestricted Support	$5,000
ASCPA New York, NY	General Unrestricted Support	$500
Baptists on Mission Cary, NC	General Unrestricted Support	$25,000
CFWNC Ashville, NC	General Unrestricted Support	$15,000
Carillon Clinic Foundation Roanoke, VA	General Unrestricted Support	$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
HUNTER D SMITH	Trustee	1	—
ROSS P SMITH	Trustee	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does James R Smith Family Foundation fund?

The foundation primarily funds unrestricted general support to various organizations. Its grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Religious organizations • Historical preservation

How do I apply for a grant from James R Smith Family Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 16 grants in 2023. Recent documented grants include: • First Scots Independent Presbyterian Church: $12,000 (Religious) • The Preservation Society of Charleston: $11,000 (Historical Preservation) • Woodberry Forest School: $8,000 (Educational) **Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $250 to $210,000, with total giving of $422,200 documented in recent filings.

Where does James R Smith Family Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

What size grants does James R Smith Family Foundation award?

In 2024, James R Smith Family Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $422K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is James R Smith Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James R Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $626K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is James R Smith Family Foundation's EIN?

James R Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6577908. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.